Boat steering mechanism



g- 2, 1966 w. F. BENNETT BOAT STEERING MECHANISM Filed April 29, 1965 INVENTOR. WILL/AM E BENNETT ATTORNEYS 3,263,640 Ice Patented August 2, 1966 3,263,640 BOAT STEERING MECHANISM William F. Bennett, 269 Massachusetts Ave, Buffalo, N.Y. Filed Apr. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 451,852 Claims. (Cl. 114-144) This invention relates to steering mechanism for boats and more particularly to steering mechanism for relatively small craft wherein cables extend from a steering wheel or other manual control member to the boat steering member at the rear of the boat.

In the most common forms of steering mechanisms of the general type here under consideration a pair of control cables extend rearwardly from the steering Wheel, one along each side of the boat, and then transversely toward the longitudinal center line of the boat at the rear wall or transom where the steering member itself is located. By way of example, such steering member may be a part of an outboard motor assembly, in which case the entire motor and propeller assembly, including a rudder member, swings about a generally vertical axis. In other instances, the steering member may comprise a tiller arm or the like which is oscillatable to control a rudder member of any other type.

Speaking generally, the steering mechanism of the present invention comprises an arm which is movably attached at one end adjacent to a rear corner of the boat inside of the hull and extends transversely inwardly along the. transom toward the longitudinal center line of the boat. This arm supports a novel pulley arrangement which controls a slidable rod which is carried by the arm and adapted to project and retract with respect to the arm to swing a pivoted or otherwise laterally movable steering arm or member, such as a tiller or an outboard motor assembly.

The movable mounting of the arm and the pulley arrangement are such that the control cable extending forwardly therefrom to the manual steering means, such as steering wheel, has a substantially constant effective length and therefore remains taut without the necessity for springs or other tensioning or adjusting devices. Also, the two forwardly extending ends of the control cables are arranged to extend along one side of the boat hull, rather than one along each side, as is conventional. This makes for a cleaner interior arrangement in the boat hull and facilitates installation of the present mechanism in existing boat structures.

In the case of outboard motor installations the steering mechanism of the present invention is of particular advantage for the following reason. In addition to the pivotal motion of the entire outboard motor assembly on a generally vertical axis for steering purposes, outboard motors are conventionally provided with a horizontal pivotal mounting so that the outboard motor assembly may be rotated on an axis adjacent to the upper edge of the transom to raise the motor and lift the propeller and rudder member from the water for various purposes.

This movement on a horizontal axis obviously swings the steering member, which extends forwardly from the motor housing proper, in a downward direction. In a conventional cable steering arrangement this downward movement changes to effective cable length so radically that extension springs or other compensating devices are required, and even with such devices generally unsatisfactory results are produced and the cable frequently leaves the pulley, requiring replacement when the motor is returned to operating position. The movable mounting of the control arm of the present invention and the pulley arrangement are such that substantial constant cable length is achieved in all positions of the steering member, including the downward movement which occurs when an outboard motor is swung to raise the propeller and rudder from the water.

Even where no such downward movement is encountered, as in the operation of an ordinary tiller, the lateral swinging of the tiller arm in effecting steering describes a forwardly extending arc which, with conventional pulley arrangements, creates a problem of compensating the effective cable length in one way or another. In the present arrangement this difficulty is effectively eliminated.

While several specific embodiments of the principles of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail in the following specification, it is to be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and that various mechanical modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is limited only as defined in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the rear portion of a boat hull showing the port side thereof, illustrating one form of the steering mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1 looking rearwardly at the transom;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view taken similarly to FIG. 2 showing a modified slide bearing arrangement for the steering rod;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to the right-hand portion of FIG. 1 showing a modified pulley arrangement at the pivoted end of the control arm of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to the upper right-hand corner of FIG. 2 showing a further modified pulley arrangement at the pivoted end of the control arm.

In the drawing like characters of reference denote like parts and the numeral 1t designates generally a boat hull having a side Wall 11 and a rear wall or transom 12. In the instance illustrated in the drawing by way of example an outboard motor is designated 13. Conventional outboard motors assume various forms and in the motor shown at 13 in the drawing a handle formation 14 at the front portion thereof is provided for rotating the motor on a vertical axis to steer the boat and also for rocking the motor on a horizontal axis to lift the propeller and rudder from the water. In this instance the steering control rod of the mechanism of the present invention may be connected directly to the handle 14. In other instances a steering arm or tiller may extend forwardly from the motor proper for steering purposes and in such case the steering control rod of the present invention may be pivotally connected to such steering arm or tiller.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the principal body member of the mechanism of the present invention comprises a channel member 16 of box section open only along its upper edge as indicated at 17 in FIG. 1. A pair of side plates 18 and 19 are fixed to one end of channel member 16 as by welding and a pivot 20 connects the side plates 13 and 19 to a plate 21 which comprises one leaf of a hinge 22, the other leaf of which, designates 23 is fixed to an inside rear corner of the boat hull as clearly shown in FIG. 1. From the foregoing it will be noted that the left hand end of channel member 16 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 may 'move forwardly and rearwardly by reason of vertical hinge Z2 and may also move upwardly and downwardly by reason of its pivotal connection at 20.

A rod ZS'is mounted for axial sliding movement in a pair of bearing blocks 26 and 27 which are secured in channel member 16. The outer end of rod 25 may be connected with the steering member of the boat in a variety of ways depending upon the structure and disposition of the steering member. In the present instance the outer end of rod 25 is pivoted to handle 14 of the outboard motor housing 13 by a bolt and nut pivotal connection 28.

A pulley 30 is mounted for free rotation on pivot pin and a second pulley 31 is mounted for free rotation in alignment with pulley and adjacent thereto on a mounting shaft 32 carried by the side plates 18 and 1?. A bifurcated bearing bracket 35 is fixed to the top of channel member 16 toward the outer end thereof and a third pulley 36 is rotatably mounted thereon by means of a supporting shaft 37, pulley 36 being thus disposed in a common plane of rotation with respect to the pulleys 30 and 31.

A bearing bracket 46 mounted beneath the pulleys 36 and 31, in the present instance against the bottom of the hull 10, supports a shaft 41 upon which a pair of pulleys 42 and 43 are mounted for independent free rotation. A flexible cable 45 coming from forwardly in the boat passes beneath pulley 42, upwardly and over pulley 36, about pulley 36, over pulley 31 and then downwardly beneath pulley 43, and thence forwardly alongside the first mentioned portion thereof. The two forwardly extending ends of cable 45 may connect with a steering wheel or the like in any desired manner.

The cable 45 is attached to rod 25 by a screw 46 at a point on the cable between pulleys 36 and 31 as shown in FIG. 2, the attachment being adjacent to the right hand end of rod 25 as viewed in FIG. 2. Accordingly, movement of the cable in opposite directions by the steering wheel or like member (not shown) moves rod 25 correspondingly in opposite directions axially and pivots the steering member, in this instance the handle 14 of the outboard motor casing 13.

It will be seen from the foregoing that, since the pulley 30 is concentric with the horizontal pivot axis of channel member 16 and pulley 31 is closely adjacent thereto, downward movement of the latter, as when an outboard motor is lifted from operating position, does not materially change the pulley distances and the effective cable length. Likewise, since the pulleys 30, 31 and 36 have fixed relative spacings on channel member 16, swinging movement of the latter on hinge 22 during steering operations is effected without producing slack or undue tension in the cable. In this manner all necessity for springs or similar length-adjusting or tensioning devices is obviated.

Due to the self-contained nature of the major portion of the steering mechanism of the present invention, all excepting the lower pulleys 42 and 43 comprising a single unit mounted upon channel member 16, attachment of the mechanism to boat hulls of varying contours and constructions and connection to steering members or outboard motors of various types is greatly facilitated.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 shows a modified slide bearing arrangement for the projecting rod which connects with the steering member whereby the effective length of the main pivoted arm of the mechanism may be reduced and the steering mechanism is thus more easily adaptable to situations in which lateral space is limited.

In FIG. 3 a channel member 50 and a rod element 51 correspond to the channel 16 and rod 25 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3 a rod bearing 52 is fixed in the outer end of channel 50 and a second rod bearing 53 is fixed to one end of rod 51 and is slidable in channel 50.

In this case an outer pulley 54 corresponds to the pulley 36 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and is carried in a mounting bracket 55. The control cable is designated 56 and passes between the right-hand end of rod 51 and the bearing 53 which is fixed thereto, as indicated at 57 in FIG. 3, being thus held with respect to rod 51 for longitudinal movement therewith. It will be noted that with this construction the channel 50 does not need to extend to the left beyond pulley 54 and thus the effective length of channel 50 is substantially reduced.

In FIG. 4 a hinge 60 corresponds to the hinge 22 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and a channel 61 corresponds to the channel 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Side plates 62 and 63 correspond 4 to the side plates 18 and 19 of FIG. 1, these side plates being pivoted to hinge 60 by a pivot shaft 64.

In this embodiment two pulleys 66 and 67 are mounted for independent rotation on pivot shaft 64 and a cable 68 extends from the pulleys 66 and 67 to a pulley corresponding to the pulley 36 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this instance the pulleys 66 and 67 are coaxial with the pivot axis of the supporting arm and thus no cable shortening or lengthening tendency is introduced when the arm structure is pivoted on shaft 64.

In FIG. 5 a further alternative pulley arrangement is provided. In this instance a channel 70 corresponding to the channel 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2 has a pair of side plates 71 which are pivoted on a horizontal axis as at 72 to the movable leaf 73 of a hinge 74.

In this embodiment a pair of pulleys 75 and 76 corresponding in function and operation to the pulleys 30 and 31, respectively, of FIGS. 1 and 2 are rotatably mounted between the side plates 71 on shafts designated 77 and 78, respectively. Here again, a cable 79 passes from the pulleys 75 and 76 to the left as viewed in FIG. 5 over a pulley such as that shown at 36 in FIG. 2 or at 54 in FIG. 3. In this embodiment pivotal movement of the arm structure on the pivot 72 lowers the pulley 76 and raises the pulley 75 in substantially equal amounts, thus again eliminating the development of slack in the cable upon downward pivotal movement of the arm structure.

It is to be understood that the cable in each of the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 extends downwardly to a pulley structure similar to that designated 46 through 43 in FIG. 2. It will further be understood that the modified slide bearing structure of FIG. 3 may be employed with the pulley arrangements of any of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.

I claim:

1. In combination with a boat having a laterally movable steering member, steering means comprising an arm universally pivoted adjacent to a side of said boat and extending toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and connected to said steering member, a pair of pulley members carried by said arm adjacent to its pivotal mounting each rotatable in upright plane extending lengthwise of said arm, a third pulley mounted on said arm in general alignment with said pair of pulleys and spaced therefrom toward said steering member, a second pair of pulleys mounted be neath said first pair and lying in generally fore and aft planes, and a cable extending from a forward portion of said boat to and under one of said second pair of pulleys, over one of the pulleys of the first pair, about said third pulley, over the other pulley of the first pair and under the other pulley of the second pair, thence forwardly alongside the first mentioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being connected with said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to move said steering member laterally in opposite directions.

2. In combination with a boat having a laterally movable steering member, steering means comprising an arm pivoted adjacent to a side of said boat on a generally vertical axis and extending toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and connected to said steering member, a pair of pulley members carried by said arm adjacent to its pivotal mounting each rotatable in an upright plane extending lengthwise of said arm, a third pulley mounted on said arm in general alignment with said pair of pulleys and spaced therefrom toward said steering member, a second pair of pulleys mounted beneath said first pair and lying in generally fore and aft planes, and a cable extending from a forward portion of said boat to and under one of said second pair of pulleys, over one of the pulleys of the first pair, about said third pulley, over the other pulley of the first pair and under the other pulley of the second pair, thence forwardly alongside the first mentioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being connected with said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to move said steering member laterally in opposite directions.

3. In combination with a boat having a laterally movable steering member, steering means comprising an arm universally pivoted adjacent to a side of said boat and extending toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and connected to said steering member, a pair of pulley members carried by said arm adjacent to its pivotal mounting each rotatable in a plane extending lengthwise of said arm, a third pulley mounted on said arm in general alignment with said pair of pulleys and spaced therefrom toward said steering member, and a cable extending from a forward portion of said boa-t to and over one of said pair of pulleys, about saidthird pulley, over the other pulley of said pair of pulleys, thence forwardly alongside the first mentioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being connected with said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to move said steering member laterally in opposite directions.

4. In combination with a boat having a laterally movable steering member, steering means comprising an arm pivoted adjacent to a side of said boat on a generally vertical axis and extending toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and connected to said steering member, a pair of pulley members carried by said arm adjacent to its pivotal mounting each rotatable in a plane extending lengthwise of said arm, a third pulley mounted on said arm in general alignment with said pair of pulleys and spaced therefrom toward said steering member, and a cable extending from a forward portion of said boat to and over one of said pair of pulleys, about said third pulley, over the other pulley of said pair of pulleys, thence forwardly alongside the first men-tioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being connected With said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to move said steering member laterally in opposite directions.

5. In combination with a boat having a laterally movable steering member, steering means comprising an arm universally pivoted adjacent to a side of said boat and extending toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and connected to said steering member, a pair of pulley members carried by said arm adjacent to its pivotal mounting each rotatable in a plane extending lengthwise of said arm, a third pulley mounted on said arm in general alignment with said pair of pulleys and spaced therefrom toward said steering member, and a cable extending to and over one of said pair of pulleys, about said third pulley, over the other pulley of said pair of pulleys, thence alongside the first mentioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being connected with said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to move said steering member laterally in opposite directions.

6. In combination with a boat having a laterally movable steering member, steering means comprising an arm pivoted adjacent to a side of said boat on a generally vertical axis and extending toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and connected to said steering member, a pair of pulley members carried by said arm adjacent to its pivotal mounting each rotatable in a plane extending lengthwise of said arm, a third pulley mounted on said arm in general alignment with said pair of pulleys and spaced therefrom toward said steering member, and a cable extending to and over one of said pair of pulleys, about said third pulley, over the other pulley of said pair of pulleys, thence alongside the first mentioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being connected with said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to move said steering member laterally in opposite directions.

7. Boat steering mechanism for a boat having a hull including side walls, a rear wall, and a steering member adjacent to and medially of said rear wall, said steering member being pivoted on a generally upright axis and having a portion extending forwardly of its pivot axis; said steering mechanism comprising an arm pivoted to said hull on a generally upright axis adjacent to the juncture of one of said side walls and said rear wall and ex tending transversly toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and pivotally connected to the forwardly extending portion of said steering member, said arm having a generally horizontal pivot inwardly of said upright pivot whereby said arm and rod may swing upwardly and downwardly, a pair of pulleys adjacent to said horizontal pivot and each rotatable in a generally vertical plane, a third pulley mounted on said arm for rotation on a generally horizontal axis and spaced toward said steering member from said pair of pulleys, a pair of pulleys mounted below said first pair of pulleys and lying in generally fore and aft planes relative to said hull, and a cable extending from a forward portion of said hull to and under one of said second pair of pulleys, over one of said first pair of pulleys, about said third pulley and thence over the remaining pulley of first pair and under the remaining pulley of said second pair, thence forwardly generally alongside the first mentioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being fixed to said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable on said pulleys in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to pivot said steering member in opposite directions.

8. Boat steering mechanism for a boat having a hull including side walls, a rear wall, and a steering member adjacent to and medially of said rear wall, said steering member being pivoted on a generally upright axis and having a portion extending forwardly of its pivot axis; said steering mechanism comprising an arm pivoted to said hull on a generally upright axis adjacent to the juncture of one of said side walls and said rear wall and extending transversely toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and pivotally connected to the forwardly extending portion of said steering member, said arm having a generally horizontal pivot inwardly of said upright pivot whereby said arm and rod may swing upwardly and downwardly, a pair of pulleys adjacent to the pivoted end of said arm, at least one of said pair of pulleys being rotatable on said horizontal pivot axis, a third pulley mounted on said arm for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said pair of pulleys and spaced toward said steering member from said pair of pulleys, a pair of pulleys mounted below said first pair of pulleys and lying in generally fore and aft planes relative to said hull, and a cable extending from a forward portion of said hull to and under one of said second pair of pulleys, over one of said first pair of pulleys, about said third pulley, over the remaining pulley of first pair, under the remaining pulley of said second pair, thence forwardly generally alongside the first mentioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being fixed to said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable on said pulleys in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to pivot said steering member in opposite directions.

9. Boat steering mechanism for a boat having a hull including side walls, a rear wall, and a steering member adjacent to and medially of said rear wall, said steering member being pivoted on a generally upright axis and having a portion extending forwardly of its pivot axis; said steering mechanism comprising an arm pivoted to said hull on a generally upright aixs adjacent to the juncture of one of said side walls and said rear wall and extending transversely toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and pivotally connected to the forwardly extending portion of said steering member, said arm having a generally horizontal pivot inwardly of said upright pivot whereby said arm and rod may swing upwardly and downwardly, a pair of pulleys rotatable on said horizontal pivot axis, a third pulley mounted on said arm for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said pair of pulleys and spaced toward said steering member from said pair of pulleys, a pair of pulleys mounted below said first pair of pulleys and lying in generally fore and aft planes relative to said hull, and a cable extending from a forward portion of said hull to and under one of said second pair of pulleys, over one of said first pair of pulleys, about said third pulley, over the remaining pulley of first pair, under the remaining pulley of said second pair, thence forwardly generally alongside the first mentioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being fixed to said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable on said pulleys in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to pivot said steering member in opposite directions.

10. Boat steering mechanism for a boat having a hull including side walls, a rear wall, and a steering member adjacent to and medially of said rear wall, said steering member having a portion movable transversely to steer the boat; said steering mechanism comprising an arm movably connected to said hull adjacent to the juncture of one of said side walls and said rear wall for substantially universal movement and extending transversely toward said steering member, a rod slidable lengthwise of said arm and pivotally connected to the transversely movable portion of said steering member, a pair of pulleys adjacent to the movably connected end of said arm, a third pulley rotatably mounted on said arm and spaced toward said steering member from said pair of pulleys, said three pulleys being rotatable on generally horizontal axes, a pair of pulleys mounted below said first pair of pulleys and lying in generally fore and aft planes relative to said hull, and a cable extending from a forward portion of said hull to and under one of said second pair of pulleys, over one of said first pair of pulleys, about said third pulley and thence over the remaining pulley of first pair and under the remaining pulley of said second pair, thence forwardly generally alongside the first mentioned portion of said cable for mutual connection with a steering control member, said cable being fixed to said rod at a point between said third pulley and one of said first pair of pulleys whereby movement of said cable on said pulleys in opposite directions projects and retracts said rod to pivot said steering member in opposite directions.

No references cited.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

A. H. FARRELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A BOAT HAVING A LATERALLY MOVABLE STEERING MEMBER, STEERING MEANS COMPRISING AN ARM UNIVERSALLY PIVOTED ADJACENT TO A SIDE OF SAID BOAT AND EXTENDING TOWARD SAID STEERING MEMBER A ROD SLIDABLE LENGTHWISE OF SAID ARM AND CONNECTED TO SAID STEERING MEMBER, A PAIR OF PULLEY MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID ARM ADJACENT TO ITS PIVOTAL MOUNTING EACH ROTATABLE IN UPRIGHT PLANE EXTENDING LENGTHWISE TO SAID ARM, A THIRD PULLEY MOUNTED ON SAID ARM IN GENERAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID PAIR OF PULLEYS AND SPACED THEREFROM TOWARD SAID STEERING MEMBER, A SECOND PAIR OF PULLEYS MOUNTED BENEATH SAID FIRST PAIR AND LYING IN GENERALLY FORE AND AFT PLANES, AND A CABLE EXTENDING FROM A FORWARD PORTION OF SAID BOAT TO AND UNDER ONE OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF PULLEYS, OVER ONE OF THE PULLEYS OF THE FIRST PAIR, ABOUT SAID THIRD PULLEY, OVER THE OTHER PULLEY OF THE FIRST PAIR AND UNDER THE OTHER PULLEY OF THE SECOND PAIR, THENCE FORWARDLY ALONGSIDE THE FIRST MENTIONED PORTION OF SAID CABLE FOR 